Julie, Connor, and Jayne all sat at the table laughing while Murphy grabbed more drinks for everyone. The bartender had given him the most disapproving look Julie had ever seen. On his way back, several women did cat calls and one low wolf whistle made the other three burst into peals of laughter. Murphy took it all very well, raising his chin proudly and all but strutting back where he set the drinks on the table. As he stood there, Jayne pulled out a dollar bill and stuffed it in his waistband.

"Thanks, sweetheart," she smirked before taking a drink.

"Evil woman," Murphy smiled back, shaking his head.

"Come on," Julie laughed, voice slurring just a bit. "You could make good money like that. Not like you're not pretty enough."

"Ah, Julie," Connor said, acting the the comment had wounded him as he took a drink. "Don't ye think I'm pretty?"

"No," she shook her head, grinning. She grabbed his face below his chin and squeezed his cheeks a bit so his lips puffed out. "You're just handsome. But don't worry. I still wuv you, Connor-kun."

He growled playfully and pulled his face out of her hand. She still beamed up at him and he couldn't help but smile. Murphy had finally taken his seat next to Jayne, one arm wrapped around her shoulders on the back of the bench.

"Aye, well," he began with a smirk. "I could make a fair amount from these women who can't get enough of ole Murph, here. But then Jayne would be all jealous, now wouldn't ye?"

She glanced around at the women who were still staring at him and gave a shrug. "I could take 'em."

"Could ye, now," Murphy chuckled. "Oi, Conn. Wouldn't that be something ta see? Jayne 'ere fightin' off a bunch a women?"

"I'll admit, that would be a sight," Connor smiled "We may have ta pay ta see it though."

Murphy looked Jayne up and down, nodding. "T'would be worth it."

They both laughed, leaning a little closer together. Julie poured herself another shot of whiskey and knocked it back, letting it burn her throat as it went down. She started staring at a knot in the wooden table, not thinking much of anything at the moment.

"Ye alright, Julie," Connor asked concerned, smoothing some hair back from her face.

She looked up and around at everyone's face. "I have to go to the bathroom."

"Then, by all means," Murphy laughed, flourishing his hand toward the restroom area.

"Do you need me to come with you," Jayne asked her, face looking a little worried.

"No," Julie assured, sliding out of the booth. "I'm fine."

She took a few steps in the direction of the restrooms, but stumbled a little on her heels. Shaking her head, she righted herself and was able to walk straight the rest of the way.

"I think she may be almost done for the night," Connor said, watching after her as he lit a cigarette.

Jayne nodded. "I have to admit, she's held up better than I thought she would tonight."

"Oh, we broke 'er in months ago," Murphy replied, waving off the comment. "At least there ain't been no cause for a bar fight tonight."

All three nodded this time as they took a few more drinks. Connor flicked ashes into the tray, resting his elbows on the table top. Murphy and Jayne were engrossed with each other, talking about something Connor wasn't paying attention to. He finished his cigarette slowly, and Julie still hadn't returned. It had started to worry him. Stamping out the butt, he stood up.

"She's been gone for a while," he said. "I'm goin' ta go check on 'er."

"I'll go," Jayne offered, preparing to get up.

"Ah, no," Connor replied, shaking his head. "Ye stay 'ere with me brother. I can handle it. Besides, if I have ta go in ta fetch 'er, the other women can just get over it."

Jayne nodded and settled back in to Murphy's embrace. Connor smiled at his brother and walked over toward the restrooms.

Julie came stumbling out of the women's room at the far end of the pub. She had actually taken a bit of a tumble while inside waiting for one of the stalls to become unoccupied. Looking a bit disheveled, she saw Connor striding toward her from their table with a concerned look in his face. Laughing gently to herself, she stumbled on her heels again, sidling into a man who was sitting down. He looked up as if prepared to retaliate when he saw her face. A cool smile spread his lips as he stood.

"Hey there, sexy," he said, leaning in close and brushing his fingers over her practically bare shoulder. "Did you wanna have a drink with me?"

Julie grabbed his hand and twisted the wrist backwards, slamming it down on the table and applying a light amount of pressure. "You wanna keep that hand?"

With a horrified, painful expression, the man nodded frantically, trying to pull free. Julie let go of the wrist and he backed away. "Then, don't ever touch me again."

"Crazy bitch," he grumbled, rubbing at his wrist.

"Aye," Connor remarked, coming up behind her and throwing his arm around her waist. "But she's my crazy bitch."

"Connor-kun," Julie almost screamed, all smiles and giggles as she wrapped her arms around his neck and shoulders. "Did you come to save me again?"

"Aye, I did," he grinned, petting her hair. "But looks as if ye handled it well enough on your own."

She gave him a toothy grin and nuzzled her face against his neck. It sent a jolt through him as her lips passed over the Virgin Mary tattoo. She settled against his chest, like she was intent on staying there. He wrapped his arms around her and smiled into her hair. "I think ye've hit yer limit. Time ta take ye home."

"But I don't wanna go home alone," Julie mumbled childishly as he pulled her back toward the table.

"Well, who d'ye think'll be takin' ye," he chuckled. When they reached Murphy and Jayne, he shook his head playfully. "She's had it. I'm gonna take 'er back ta the house."

When they started to get up, Connor waved them off. "Naw, ye two stay out an' keep havin' a good time."

"Don't wait up fer us then," Murphy smirked at him. "We might just crash at the apartment."

Jayne didn't seem to be objecting to the remark as she leaned against him, one hand splayed across his bare chest. Connor only smiled and wrapped his arm around Julie tighter, helping her for the door. She stumbled a bit on her heels again and finally one of them broke completely off. Connor thought sure she'd start complaining about it, but without a word, she jammed the other heel against the bottom of a bench seat and kicked out hard enough that it broke the other one off cleanly.

Looking up at him through slightly bleary eyes, Julie shrugged. "Never liked heels much anyways."

Connor just chuckled, shaking his head at her as he wrapped his coat around her shoulders before taking her out into the cool night air.

A/N: Aw, man! I really liked those heels! Lol Thanks for those of you who have stuck with the story so far and left me such great reviews. Please continue to do so, I'm begging you :) Also, thanks to wolfchick11.. she knows what I'm talking about ;) And I do apologize, but the plot will pick up after this next chapter. I had to get these out of my system first, then more actual story. I know, I'm horrible…